Hilton leads California governor primary as Democrats eye November

California Democrats appeared to be avoiding a possible shutout in the governor’s race Wednesday, as Republican Steve Hilton led a crowded primary with nearly 60% of ballots counted and two Democrats remained in contention for the second November runoff spot.

Hilton, a former Fox News host and former British political operative endorsed by President Donald Trump, had 28% of the vote as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Talking Points Memo. Xavier Becerra, a Democrat and former U.S. health secretary, followed with 25%, while billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer was third with 20%. Republican sheriff Chad Bianco trailed with 11%.

Under California’s top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. That structure had alarmed Democrats earlier in the race, when Hilton and Bianco were polling first and second while more than 20 Democrats split their party’s vote. Trump’s April endorsement of Hilton helped consolidate Republican support behind him, Talking Points Memo reported.

The count could shift in the coming days. California often takes days or longer to count ballots, and later-counted votes are frequently late-arriving mail ballots that tend to favor Democrats. The Guardian reported that many Democrats may have waited until the last moment to vote because of the crowded field, meaning early returns were expected to lean Republican.

Both Hilton and Becerra expressed confidence that they would advance. If Hilton and Becerra finish in the top two, Becerra would be strongly favored in November and would become California’s first Latino governor since 1875, according to Talking Points Memo. Steyer could still overtake Becerra if later results favor him, or Hilton could be pushed out if the remaining vote is heavily Democratic, setting up an all-Democratic race between Becerra and Steyer.

The California race followed a turbulent campaign. Former Rep. Katie Porter, once the early Democratic frontrunner, lost ground after video clips circulated of her berating a staffer and leaving an interview. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell later exited the race and politics after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, according to Talking Points Memo. Becerra and Steyer gained ground after those collapses.

Primary elections across several states also clarified key contests for the 2026 midterms. In New Jersey, Democrats nominated Rebecca Bennett, a former healthcare executive and U.S. Navy veteran, to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in a suburban swing district that Trump narrowly carried last year. Kean ran unopposed after facing questions about a three-month absence from Congress.

In Iowa, Democrat Josh Turek won the nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat after defeating state Sen. Zach Wahls. Turek, a state legislator, Paralympic gold medalist and wheelchair user born with spina bifida, will face former broadcaster Ashley Hinson. “I will be a real fighter for Iowans, the middle class and our working families,” Turek said after his win. “So from now until November, I welcome all Iowans – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike – to join our team.” The Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” after his victory.

Other gubernatorial contests took shape. In Iowa, Trump-endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra lost the Republican primary to Zach Lahn. In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination and would become the country’s first female Native American governor if elected. In South Dakota, businessman Toby Doeden advanced to a Republican gubernatorial runoff while incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden fought for the second spot.

California’s new congressional maps also faced their first major test. In the redrawn 6th District, Kevin Kiley, running as an independent after leaving the Republican Party, led the field, with Republican Michael Stansfield in second place. Kiley criticized the redistricting process, saying, “Certain politicians think they can move lines around on map and choose your representative for you. We still get to vote.”